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Fire near Charles Town Races kills 27 horses

Posted: Monday, September 06, 2010 3:32 PM

by Tom de Martini

Twenty-seven horses died early Monday morning when a fast-moving fire swept through three privately owned barns across the street from Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races in Ransom, West Virginia.

The blaze began about 4:40 a.m. EDT and destroyed two barns while partially damaging a third, according to Lenny Hale, executive director of the Charles Town Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association.

Sharon and Freddy Johnson owned one of the two destroyed barns while Steve Spears owned the other, though Hale said Spears was leasing stall space in his barn. The Johnsons are owners and breeders based in West Virginia. Hale did not immediately know the owner of the third barn.

“We haven’t had the best day here, but it could have been a lot worse if it had been windy and it spread faster,” Hale said. “But we’ve gotten an overwhelming amount of support. Penn National Gaming [Inc.] opened up a closed barn at Charles Town to house some of the affected horses. We’ve also been contacted by the national HBPA, the Maryland Jockey Club, and Mountaineer [Casino Resort and Racetrack].

Hale said the HBPA is seeking donations to assist local trainers who lost horses in the blaze. Hale added the specifics of owners and trainers who had horses killed, injured, or affected by the fire was not immediately known.

Charles Town spokesman Erich Zimney said the track’s barn area was made available immediately following the fire’s aftermath.

“We found barns and worked with the horsemen to get the horses safe and clean barn areas,” Zimney said, adding that Charles Town’s stable area houses approximately 1,350 horses.

The fire did not affect Monday’s scheduled Labor Day afternoon card.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation by local officials.

Tom de Martini is a New Jersey-based Mid-Atlantic Region correspondent of Thoroughbred Times

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READER COMMENTS

Posted by: Nick, Wv , WV on September 09, 2010 at 11:08 PM

That is a LIE!!! The racetrack did NOT help us until WAY after 1pm
they made us turn horses loose on the training track! Refused us the right to the recieving barn because of ship ins for that days card!!!
They only decided to help when PETA showed up & the horsemen started talking to the press about the REAL story! Charles Town ManGenent didn't & still doesn't give a damn what happens to those horsemen & they are being made out to be heros!! Great job Charles Town!

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Posted by: Lee, New York, NY on September 09, 2010 at 05:42 PM

I just found out that my father lost a horse in that fire...its terrible i can't stop thinkin about it. He spent alot of time with the horse and training him, He was supposed to race 2 weeks ago but had a medical problem and now this! I can't believe this happened - my condolenses to everyone who lost their beloved animals.

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Posted by: Carol, Winchester, VA on September 09, 2010 at 08:30 AM

The barns there were structurally challenged.There weren't any precautionary smoke alarms in the barns-at least that I had seen. Not to mention the 100 cats that are displaced.

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Posted by: Deborah, Conowingo, MD on September 08, 2010 at 09:11 PM

Sad. very sad. The horsemen involved no doubt lost
beloved friends. I can't even imagine how horrible
it was for horses and people alike.

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Posted by: don, poolesville, MD on September 07, 2010 at 07:01 PM

i cant believe charlestown went ahead with racing card yesterday.how about giving the people who lost horses and everything else some time to grieve and regroup?why no securty patrol or smoke detectors were not n place i cant figure.i know these barns were old but im sure the fire marshalls check cleared to allow these horses to b n harms way.my heart and prayers go out to those who lost horses n this tragic fire.may god b with u one and all!!!

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